Schott frères

Schott frères is a Belgian sheet music publishing house that began in 1823 as the Belgium branch of B. Schott's Söhne, currently named Schott Music GmbH & Co. KG. The age of Schott frères has five markers. It is:

Schott frères is one of three European music publishing firms bearing the name Schott, all of which became independent in 1875; the other two, as of 1980, are the same firm – Schott Music GmbH & Co KG based in Mainz. The three publishing houses – part of B. Schott's Söhne when they became independent in 1875 – were: (i) B. Schott's Söhne of Mainz, (ii) Schott and Co., Limited, of London, and (iii) Schott frères of Brussels. By way of partnership, the London firm became affiliated with the Mainz firm, but operated autonomously from 1914 to 1980, when Schott's Söhne of Mainz resumed control. The firms are often confused with one another because, in addition to sharing the Schott name, they distribute music for one another and share the publishing heritage from when the three were one.

The Belgian publishing house, as part of the firm B. Schott's Söhne, was opened in 1823 in Antwerp by two of Bernhard's four children, Johann Andreas Schott (1781–1840) and Johann Josef Schott (1782–1855). Peter Bernhard Schott (1821–1873), Johann Andreas' son, became managing director of the Antwerp branch, and in 1943, moved it to Brussels.

Franz Schott () (1811–1874) – the oldest son of Johann Andreas Schott (1781–1840), who was the oldest son of Bernhard Schott – was the managing director and sole proprietor of B. Schott's Söhne from 1855 until his death. Franz's will stipulated that B. Schott's Söhne be distributed after the death of his wife, Betty de Braunrasch (1820–1875), as follows:

Franz Ritter von Landwehr (born 1865) inherited the publishing business of Mainz while a minor; after reaching majority age, he operated it until retirement in 1911. The publishing house became Schott Music GmbH & Co. KG

Effective January 1, 2007, Schott Music' acquired Schott fréres from the two main shareholders: Eric Junne and Music & Instruments Distribution (MID). Schott fréres had been domiciled at Ravensteinstraat in Brussels. MID was operating a shop there and Schott frères was running a small publishing catalog. The shop was closed.

Schott frères and its Brussels predecessor, B. Schott's Söhne, played a critical role in defining a Belgian identity – a blend of Flemish and Belgian-French, both connected to the pure French school. Compositions were produced for chamber music, orchestras, military bands, Belgian royalty, churches, and music pedagogy, namely the Royal Conservatory of Brussels.

...
Wikipedia